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Rapid Production of Nanoscale Liposomes Using a 3D-Printed Reactor-In-A-Centrifuge: Formulation, Characterisation,
Yongqing He1, Davide De Grandi2, Stanley Chandradoss3
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
Micromachines
|September 28, 2023
Summary
A novel 3D-printed reactor-in-a-centrifuge device enables cost-effective, controlled production of nanoscale liposomes for drug delivery. This method simplifies synthesis and offers tunable liposome size for therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanoscale liposomes are crucial for drug delivery, improving pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy.
- Traditional liposome production methods lack control and are labor-intensive.
- Microfluidic methods offer control but face challenges in cost, complexity, and production rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cost-effective and controllable laboratory-scale method for producing therapeutic liposomes.
- To demonstrate the tunability of liposome size and characteristics using a novel device.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 3D-printed reactor-in-a-centrifuge (RIAC) device for liposome synthesis.
- Adjusted formulation parameters (e.g., polyethylene glycol concentration) and production parameters (e.g., temperature, centrifugation speed/time, lipid concentration).
Main Results:
- Achieved tunable liposome mean size in the range of 140–200 nm.
- Produced liposomes with a therapeutically relevant mean size of ~174 nm and narrow size distribution (polydispersity index ~0.1).
- Demonstrated a high production rate of >8 mg/min.
Conclusions:
- The 3D-printed RIAC device offers a simplified, versatile, and cost-effective approach for laboratory-scale liposome synthesis.
- This method facilitates the production of therapeutic liposomal formulations with controlled properties.
